The Detroit Pistons will have some interesting options in the second round, including taking a flyer on an international player with upside.
One way to amass talent is to select an international player and then stash them overseas so that teams can keep their draft rights without giving up a roster spot.
There are several international prospects who fall into this category in 2021, as they are young, have plenty of upside, but may need more time to develop overseas.
The Detroit Pistons have time, so this is a solid strategy in the draft, as they might be able to snag a first-round talent in the second-round.
Of course, there is some amount of risk to this, as many international players have not played against top competition so it is difficult to know what they can be.
The Detroit Pistons will likely be picking in the mid to late 40’s as they have a second-round pick coming from the Toronto Raptors and one from the Charlotte Hornets.
So we took a look at four guys who could fall into that range but might have first-round talent.
Potential Pistons draft picks: Usman Garuba- Power forward, Real Madrid
Usman Garuba definitely fits the profile of a guy with upside who will need more time to develop. He is a very raw prospect, especially on the offensive end, but has some tantalizing upside on defense.
He is a 6-foot-8 forward who has the length to defend all over the floor and is already a good shot blocker with active hands. He can run and is a lob threat on the fast break, so he fits the mold of what Troy Weaver seems to like, which is athletic guys who have length and can defend.
Like many who fit that description, Garuba can’t shoot and would need a lot of work on that end. He would be a draft-and-stash candidate, as he definitely needs more time but his athleticism and defensive upside should eventually get him a look from someone.
Potential Pistons draft picks: Ariel Hukporti- Center, BC Nevėžis (Lithuania)
Hukporti is one of many interesting big men in this draft in that he has already has an NBA frame at 7-feet 251 lbs. and has flashed some skill when it comes to passing and shooting.
Hukporti is a good passer for his size, averaging 1.2 assists in just over 21 minutes per game. He is also a plus-shot blocker and has shown some touch from the outside.
He is not there yet offensively but he’ll be one of the youngest players in the draft and does shoot 31 percent from 3-point range, so the potential is there for Hukporti to be a rim protector who can run the floor and knock down spot-up shots.
If he can continue to develop on the offensive end, he could be a player for someone down the road, especially if he can get himself in better shape and improve his lateral quickness.
Roko Prkacin- Power Forward, Cibona (Croatia)
Prkacin is like a lot of international forwards in that he has good size at 6-foot-9, has basketball skills when it comes to passing and shooting but may lack the athleticism to be able to defend at the next level.
He is an active defender but won’t be the quickest guy on the court. He is a solid playmaker though, and profiles as a guy who could eventually be a point forward who could initiate the offense.
Though he is not as good yet, he does have a little Franz Wagner energy in that he can do everything pretty well but doesn’t yet have an elite NBA skill.
He could be the youngest player in the draft, so he would be a long-term project but one with potential.
Possible Detroit Pistons draft picks: Juhann Begarin- Shooting guard, Paris Basketball
Begarin is from Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, which is part of the lesser Antilles, so he speaks French even though his country is about as far from France as you can get.
The Detroit Pistons have been stockpiling French-speaking youngsters already with Killian Hayes and Sekou Doumbouya, so Begarin would fit right in.
Linguistics aside, I love this guy as a second-round prospect if he ends up falling to the Detroit Pistons because he very much fits the profile of the type of guys they have been trying to acquire.
Begarin is another guy who will only be 18-years-old at the time of the draft, but he is already blessed with an NBA body at 6-foot-5 185 lbs. What I love about him is that he gets after it on the defensive end, plays with physicality and has plus length.
He is a good shot blocker and swipes a lot of steals, so with his size, he profiles as a guy who could be a very good guard defender in the NBA.
His offensive game is still raw but improving. He doesn’t shoot the ball particularly well for a shooting guard and will have to improve his handles as well, as he turns the ball over too much.
But there is a lot to like about the way he plays and he could end up being a steal if he falls to the second round of the draft.
The Detroit Pistons will have a lot of options in the second round, but I love the idea of taking a high-upside international player to develop while the Pistons are still rebuilding.